The whole family congregated at the Harvey Cedars beach house Oct. 13 for a slew of birthdays: Oct. 6 (two celebrants), 20, Nov. 11, 28. All 13 of us were there; 11 slept over. It was a great party with two girls of 12 and two boys of 15 and their parents from 45 to 55 – two sons, a daughter and their spouses. And then there were we two elders from whom it all sprang.

A few of the kids got antsy but not after one of the daughters-in-law suggested cards and introduced Spit with two decks.